Recommendation? Mini Pocket Knife for Kitchen Use

Racheski said:
Hello Blade Forums!

I'm a relatively new chef looking for a very small/mini pocket knife that I can clip to my arm sleeve pocket. It will mainly be used to cut plastic wrap, scrape off labels, cut twine, i.e. quick tasks where I may not be close to my station's knives or when a chef's knife would not be ideal. I have been using a WORKPRO EDC Folding Utility Knife, but I cannot open it with one hand which slows me down. Specific requirements are:

-Less than 3.5 inches closed
-Easy to open and close with one hand
-Pocket clip
-Under $100 (the cheaper the better)
-Lightweight

The Gerber Mini-Fast Draw Knife looks like a viable candidate, but I know nothing about EDC/pocket knives so I wanted to consult with the experts!

Thanks in advance!
Robin
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Kershaw Leek Titanium. All requirements satisfied aside from the price. $150?

Assisted flipper (thumbstuds,too), framelock. Very quick draw and re-holster. Quicker than all the other recommendations here so far.
 
Cold Steel Mini Tuff Lite. Ticks all the boxes and should be light enough to stay clipped to a sleeve. Failing that, the Byrd Robin as previously mentioned.
 
Racheski said:
Heard. I'll experiment clipping to pants pocket - what did you carry during your chef days?
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Even though I was in Boston (similar knife laws) I usually carried a 3"-3.5" knife
I found those lengths ideal for me.

A lot of my favorite "kitchen utility" knives were a bit over the $100 limit you posted but the higher quality steel made them need to be sharpened less often.
In no particular order these were what I liked to carry.

Benchmade, Mini Griptilian
Benchmade, 940
Spyderco, Delica
Spyderco, Paramilitary2
Kizer, Gemini
Ontario, RAT 2 (in D2 steel)
Spyderco, Dragonfly2
Benchmade, Mini Barrage

The knives in bold can be found for under $100
My favorite was either the Mini Griptillian or the 940, Due the Axis lock mechanism which makes them very easy, safe and quick to close and put back in my pocket.
 
Even though I often carried a folder in the kitchen (especially the new one 🤣 ), I found a fixed blade to be more useful/less messy than a folder.

Acquired a piece of kydex and a used clip that was utilized on many sheaths, a toaster oven and some kitchen towels and a sheath was born. Not the prettiest but fully functional, even learned to secure the knife with a nice 'click' and to turn out the end of the sheath with a hair dryer for easier replacement, and of course air holes to alleviate any moisture. Below are two of many variations, the Kato wapetty being a favorite

Here's a youtube vid to show placement

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For your purpose and your budget, you cannot go wrong with the Spyderco Dragonfly. I would suggest getting the wharncliffe version.
 
AD20.5 with Tero tuf scales (good grip.) Come to think of it the standard stock grivory scales may be great for kitchen use too.
 
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Civivi Baby Banter if you want a good, inexpensive folder.
But if you want to use it for scraping and stuff like that, Workpro makes a button-lock utility knife that should be easier to use with one hand. The Milwaukee Fastback Flip is similar, possibly nicer quality.
 
I used the Civivi Mini Bullmastiff once for food prep with… reasonable success. Cutting wasn’t a problem. It’s just that it’s messy to clean up folders afterwards.

I’d probably dedicate an H1 Endura for food prep. At least you won’t have to worry about residual water droplets rusting your blade lol.
 
If you definitely prefer a folding knife, I would increase your budget and pick up a Benchmade Mini Bugouot.
 
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